Can the Detroit Tigers Still Beat the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 World Series?

Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval joined Albert Pujols, Reggie Jackson, and Babe Ruth as the only players to hit three home runs in a World Series game in San Franciso's 8-3 win in Game 1 Wednesday night.
Reuters

The Detroit Tigers trail the San Francisco Giants 2-0 in the 2012 World Series. The series heads to Detroit for Games Three, Four and Five, if necessary.

San Francisco has dominated the early part of the series. They’ve outscored the Tigers 10-3 in the first two games. Many experts are starting to count Detroit out, after their poor showing on Wednesday and Thursday.

Do the Tigers still have a chance to come back and win the World Series?

Detroit entered the series as decided favorites to win the title. Las Vegas bookmakers placed their betting odds at 5/8, with the Giants at 7/5.

Despite what the odds may have said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that San Francisco has taken an early lead in the Fall Classic. Over a 162-game schedule, the Giants were the better team. They won 94 games in the regular season, while the Tigers finished with just 88 victories.

The Giants also have home-field advantage. Both teams perform better at home, especially the Tigers. During the regular season, they won 12 more games at Comerica Park than they did on the road.

Since they swept the Yankees, the Tigers had a whole week between the American League Championship Series and World Series. San Francisco had just one day off in between series, and wasn’t interrupted by a long layoff. While the week helped Detroit set up their rotation, the time off may have disrupted their offense.

With Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in the middle of their lineup, the Tigers may have the most formidable No.3 and No.4 hitters in the MLB. Cabrera won the first Triple Crown in 45 years, and Fielder has six straight 30-home run seasons.

In the World Series, the two have combined to go 2-for 11, driving in just one run. The lack of playing time might be to blame, and the Tigers will have a tough time winning, if those two aren’t effective.

Through two games, Detroit is hitting .167, with three extra-base hits. It’s hard to see them continuing to be so helpless at the plate. With a few games under their belt, the Tigers hitters should have more success in the next few games.

Even though Detroit had the opportunity to set their rotation, San Francisco has outpitched them. Justin Verlander pitched his worst game of the playoffs in Game One, and Doug Fister was bested by Madison Bumgarner in Game Two.

Ryan Vogelsong and Matt Cain, arguably the Giants best pitchers, will start in the next two games, putting them in position to sweep the series. It won’t be easy, though, as the Tigers pitchers have been dominant this postseason.

Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer have been virtually unhittable, striking out 28 batters in 24.1 innings and pitching to a 1.11 ERA. They’ll give Detroit a good chance to tie up the series. If the Tigers can win the first two games at home, they’ll have a chance to take the lead, sending their ace to the mound at home in Game Five.

San Francisco has all the momentum heading into Detroit. They’ve won five straight playoff games and are just two wins away from taking home their second championship in three years.

However, things can turn around very quickly. The Tigers still haven’t lost a home game, and are going back to Comerica Park with, possibly, the league’s best hitter and starting pitcher.